CS/Volunteer Florida Coast Guard. While fairly little known, they were a part of the units in the state. The best known (and represented) is Co. K, 7th Infantry,the Key West Avengers. They were mustered into the Army of the Tennessee. They lost 38% of their men to the CS Navy and were They are a reenactment unit in Florida, I believe Department of the Gulf, but I might be wrong, s'don't hold me to that.
While being called for a very short time units of CG were in the Cape Fear River area. I'm still doing my research on what they did, and on some units, how long they served for. Some have a detailed service record, some not. SOme have large numbers of men as Co. K, some smaller. There were men serving in State service already, and they were mustered in in 1862, and consolidated by the end of the war by Johnston as there were so many depleted units.
As they are a highly respected and known reenactment group I'm choosing State Service over that big battles. While these units did not participate in the large battles they were instrumental as pilots on the east coast of Florida's interconnected waterways.
I say I am doing my research. A man on here from Jupiter Inlet, of which shallow draft craft only could make it through the shifting sands of the inlet, has a very detailed history of the war in the region that I am in. I have heard that the ships were off loaded into smaller boats and moved north but as yet have definitive proof of that. I have also heard of clandestine shipyard in the area of the Indian River, although I think it more local legend that actual fact.
Before I do get up and going I have contacted the Florida Historical Society to have the records for such service researched and brought out for me to take notes off of.
As to why I'm stuck on this particular weapon? I'm at this point
not. My research will have to go further into what they were carrying as weapons, uniforms, and craft used by them. I'm looking forward to this and making the unit into a presentable outfit on the first go.
I would imagine that M1842 smoothbores were carried, I'm not certain at this point that they may have or not been armed with M1853 Enfield rifles, so the matter needs to be hashed out through the stacks as it were I have had a few very good books recommended to me on the subject of the war in Florida as well as my own particular area.
So my representation at this point is purely in the research stage. I think I got a bit impulsive (compulsive maybe?) about the carbine. Much like any Enfield it would have had to pass the blockade somewhere. Although 60 some odd ships were taken by various Union "90 day" gun boats, many more made it through.
I will include a few links, if you would care to peruse them as your time allows.
But no, never mind India. Thanks for the advice, you all.
http://myweb.fsu.edu/rthompson2//cw/guard/guard_units.html